After the lion, the spotted
hyena is the second largest carnivore in Africa. Although spotted hyenas
will scavenge food whenever possible, even daring to steal kills from
other carnivores, they are also efficient pack hunters, able to take down
adult wildebeests and zebras.

The native habitat of the
spotted hyena is the wide savannah of central and southern Africa. The
hyena roams the open savannah, often resting in the shady dirt beneath
the various trees. Hyenas in captivity strongly prefer settings resembling
their natural habitats.

The hyena is a highly social
animal that lives in matriarchal clans of 35 to 80 individuals. Male and
female hyenas possess reproductive organs that are similar in appearance,
making it difficult to differentiate between the genders in this species.

Hyenas are among the noisiest
of African mammals, with 11 different sounds and calls. Angry hyenas will
emit a number of vocalizations, including a loud whoop and a high, cackling
laugh. A loud hyena is often an angry one.

Hyenas have wonderfully efficient
digestive systems, which are capable of digesting the bones, horns, and
even teeth of their prey. In captivity, hyenas are supplied with a steady
diet of meat and dry foods. Hyenas prefer to drink every night if water
is available, but like many savannah animals, they can do without water
if necessary. Waterholes provide an additional benefit for the hyena in
that they attract other animals upon which the hyena preys.

Hyenas have a contentious
relationship with most other animals on the African savannah. Generally,
the hyenas are either trying to steal their food or kill them. Lions and
hyenas have a particular dislike for one another. Adult male lions will
go out of their way to kill hyenas; perhaps because it is not uncommon
for a pack of hyenas to chase away lions from a fresh kill.